Late August in Central New York not only means the return of students to the Syracuse University campus, but also the return of the New York State Fair. The fair is a 13-day festival of entertainment, agricultural exhibitions, cultural performances rides, food and fun.
Whether you are a seasoned fairgoer or plan to go for the first time, we have put together a guide that covers everything you need to know.
General Information
The New York State Fair opens Wednesday, Aug. 20, and runs through Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 1. It is open from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day except for Labor Day, when it closes at 9 p.m.
Student Experience will sponsor a trip to the fair on Saturday, Aug. 30. Tickets, which are $3, will be available in the Cuse Activities portal on Monday, Aug. 25.
Building Hours
The Brown Swiss competition at the 2024 New York State Fair (Photo by Michael J. Okoniewski/NYS Fair)
Buildings will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. with following exceptions: the Daniel Parrish Witter Agriculture Museum will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; the Wegmans Art and Home Center will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; the Eatery Building will be open until 10 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday; and the Dairy Products Building will be open until 10 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (the Milk Bar closes at 9 p.m.).
Tickets and Parking
Admission to the fair is $8.32 (including fees), and free for those who are 65 years old and older or children 12 years old and younger.
There are three ways to purchase tickets:
Online: Via Etix
Over the phone: By calling Etix toll-free at 1.800.514.3849 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and noon to 8 p.m. on Sunday
At the gate: Kiosks positioned at all gates will be used for electronic ticket purchases. Large signs featuring QR codes will direct fairgoers to Etix to purchase tickets.
Note: Ticketing is completely cashless. Machines that can convert cash into a usable card will be positioned at the fair’s main gate. Self-service kiosks will be available at all gates to purchase admission tickets.
Special fair days include the following:
Wacky Wednesdays (Wednesdays, Aug. 20 and 27): One day, ride-all day wristbands
Fairgoers take in the thrill rides along the Midway section at the 2024 fair. (Photo by Michael J. Okoniewski/NYS Fair)
for $30.
Parking tickets may be purchased for $12.41* (including fees) in several ways, including the following:
Online: Via Etix
Over the phone: By calling Etix toll-free at 1.800.514.3849 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and noon to 8 p.m. on Sunday
At the lot: Drivers can pay for parking by credit card in each lot.
Note: EZPass Plus is no longer an option for parking.
For directions and a parking map, visit this New York State Fairgrounds webpage.
Transportation
The butter sculpture at the 2024 New York State Fair (Photo by Michael J. Okoniewski/NYS Fair)
There are three Centro bus park-and-ride locations, with the downtown Centro hub and Destiny USA being the closest to campus. Those buses will run directly to the fair from 8:45 a.m. to 8:45 p.m. Return service will run from 9 a.m. to 11:15 p.m. (9:15 p.m. on Labor Day). The fee to ride the shuttle one way is $1 for adults and $.50 for senior citizens, children 6 to 9 years old and those living with disabilities. Children under 6 are free.
Visit the University’s campus shuttle webpage for information on Centro buses that stop at the Centro hub and Destiny USA.
Midway Hours
The Midway will be open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, except on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 1, when it closes at 9 p.m. For details about ride tickets, visit the New York State Fair website.
Food
Fairgoers enjoy treats from the baked potato booth at the 2024 fair (Photo by Michael J. Okoniewski/NYS Fair)
One of the biggest attractions at the fair is the food! From sausage sandwiches to barbecue, apples to deep fried treats, there is something to please every appetite. Two perennial fair favorites—the 25-cent cup of milk, located in the Dairy Products Building, and the $1 baked potato, located in the Horticulture Building—will be back.
Select vendors will offer discounted samples as part of “Tasty Tuesday” on Aug. 26, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Samples will be available for $3 to $5 each. To plan out your meals, visit the fair’s map page and search the Fair Finder section.
Live Entertainment and Attractions
Included with your admission is access to many different forms of live entertainment and attractions. The Latino Village, Pan-African Village, Indian Village and Asian Village are brimming with cultural offerings. You can plan your trip in advance with the full listing of attractions and exhibitions on the fair website.
The Dropkick Murphys performs at the Suburban Park Stage at the 2024 fair (Photo by Warren Linhart/NYS Fair)